The Film Daily (1934)

THE mm DAILY Friday, April 6, 1934 18 HOUSES REOPENED IN PITTSBURGH AREA (.Continued from Page 1) houses either reopened or went to full-time operation, in addition to which two new houses were opened, the Princess, operated by T. R. Shanahan, in Sonora, Pa., and the Grand, operated by C. R. Blatt, in Somerset Pa. Only five closings took place in the territory during the month. On the eastern front of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Film Boai'd reports six reopenings against five closings. Opening of five houses, and no closings, is shown in the report of the Washington, D. C, Film Board. Through the Oklahoma territory, in addition to four reopenings, five new houses are reported, as follows: Inca, Okmulgee; Cozy, Afton; Ace. Tecumseh; Palace, Claremore, and a theater in Fairfax opening May 1 Three Pictures Completed At Universal This Week West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — "Half a Sinner," first of a trio of pictures completed this week at Universal City, went to the cutting room yesterday. Berton Churchill, whoi handled the featured role, starred in the original Broadway production of the John HymerLeroy Clemens play "Alias the Deacon," on which "Half a Sinner" is based. Joel McCrea has the male juvenile lead in "Half a Sinner," with Sally Blane playing opposite him. Others included in the cast are Mickey Rooney, Russell Hopton. Theresa Maxwell Conover, Alexandra Carlisle, Spencer Charters and Gay Seabrook. Kurt Neumann directed from a script by Earle Snell and Clarence Marks. The second picture finished was "Embarrassing Moments," starring Chester Morris, with Marian Nixon, Walter Woolf, Huntley Gordon, Alan Mowbray, John Wray, Henry Armetta and others. Third production was "The Devil's Pay Day," based on Max Marcin's play, "The Humbug," with Nils Asther, Gloria Stuart, Alan Dinehart, Paul Kelly, Robert Greig. John Wray and others. Regular Loew Preferred Dividend Regular quarterly dividend of $ 1.62K5 on the preferred stock has been declared by Loew's, Inc., payable May 15 to stock of Record A | til 28. Deadlocked on Boards Still tailing to agree on personnels ot the New York and Philadelphia boards, the Code Authority's committee on nominations adjourned yesterday afternoon until today when another meeting will be held just prior to the Code Authority session. Monogram Convention Chatter By ARTHUR W. EDDY ^TLANTIC CITY— The Ambassador's wine list has been Monogramized. It offers such specialties as the Johnston highball (it will knock your hat off) and the Trem Side-Carr (You'll be completely derailed). Latest addition to the Monogram personnel is Joe Orchestra. He's an accordionist whom Eddie Golden chartered to make music during the expedition and he plays like a combination of Joe Cook's famous Hawaiians and the Marx Brothers. Madeleine S. White dared Floyd St. John to take a dip in the Atlantic, but they compromised on wading around in its frigid waters for half an hour. Ray Johnston engaged a "secret suite" for his own solitude and another one as a playroom for the Monogram boys and girls. Bat the first-nnentioned suite became exofficio in short time when the gang moved in, putting the playroom into discard. Four more franchise holders are adopting the Monogram name for their exchanges. They are Herman Rifkin of Boston, Jack Merkowitz of Buffalo and Albany and Sam and Jake Flax of Washington. Byron Mills, son of Bernic Mills of Buffalo, is conventioning as a preliminary to breaking into the picture business. Al Thomas of Philly provided the Monogrammers with courtesy cards admitting them to all the boardwalk theaters. A. C. atmosphere is full of Monogram. The Steel Pier electric sign reads "Welcome Men of Monogram" to the extent of 40 feet. Twentyfour sheets are advertising current runs of "Beggars in Ermine" at the Strand and "Broken Dreams" at the Steel Pier. Window cards with photos of Ray Johnston and Trem Ciirf are being prominently displayed in virtually every store along the boardwalk. The entire delegation posed for pictures on the boardwalk while Ed Finney made a reel of his own via the sixteen millimeter system. Memories of the codifying days of '33 in Washington ivas revived by Eddie Golden when he addressed tin opining session. Club No. 1 is at the Larchmont home of Ray Johnston, Nat Lefton operates Club No. 2 in Cleveland, Herman Rifkin fathers No. 3 at Boston and Russ Bell sponsors No. 4 not too far from Broadway. Arthur Bromberg gave Trem Carr what he described as a Southern welcome. Trem though the football season ivas on. Bill Underwood, address Dallas, checked into the convention ahead of his partner, Claude Ezell. Carioca champs up to the present time are Nellie Witting and Howard Stubbins, who are headlining at the Club Monogram. Winifred Godde and Madeleine White comprise the high-powered secretarial battery for Monogram. It was a foregone conclusion that W. Ray Johnston would be re-elected president of Monogram. Other officers elected are Trem Carr, vicepresident; J. P. Friedhoff, treasurer; M. S. White, secretary. The executive committee consists of Johnston, Irving Mandel, Herman R fk.n, i rem Carr, Norton Ritchey. New board of directors comprises Johnston, Carr, Robert Withers. Mand'el, Rifkin, J. S. Josscy, Floyd St. John, Samuel Seplowin, Richey and Arthur C. Bromberg. Franchise holders yesterday put their official okay on the program of 20 features and eight westerns starring John Wayne. Tentative program appropriation is 15 pei cent more than the sum decided at the Cleveland convention three months ago, and this does not in elude two or four specials for which special appropriation will be made. A surprise anniversary dinner was given to Ray Johnston at the Hotel Ambassador last night. Talent For Actors Benefit Show Among those who will appear at the American Federation of Actors' benefit show at the New Amsterdam on Sunday, April 29, are Bert Lahr, Bugs Baer, Victor Moore, Danny Healey, Julius Tannen, Ted Husing, Pat Rooney, Joe (Laurie, Jr., Fred Keating. Johnny Boyle, George Olsen and his band, Eddie Garr, Bob Hope. Chaz Chase, Val Romanoff and Princess Rita. The Ambassador management has Iack Holt Release April 10 converted the grill room and a spe Columbia's "The Whirlpool," cial room leading off the grill into | starring Jack Holt will be released "Monogram Club No. 5." Monogram nationally on April 10. FITZPATR1GK SHORTS GOING IN FOR COLOR (.Continued from Page 1) I have realized a life-long ambition," said FitzPatrick. "I have visited and photographed every country on earth that has a port of call. There is no doubt that talking pictures will bring about a closer relationship of nations than any diplomatic service or representation known to man." V( 30 Shorts Planned By United Newsreel (Continued from Pane II subjects. Thirteen single reels are planned for the "Broadway Gossip" series and seven more for the "Amemican Explorers" group. Selzer was here yesterday contacting exchangemen attending the Monogram convention. Would Force Stagehand Arbitration With the stage unions expressing unshaken opposition to the legitimate theater managers' proposal that differences be submitted to arbitration, it is expected that following the Legitimate Theater Code Authority meeting on April 10 in Washington the managers will ask Division Administrator Sol A. Rosenblatt that an executive order be obtained from President Roosevelt making arbitration mandatory. Crosby Extends Radio Contract West Coast Bureau of THE FILM P.I" H Hollywood — Bing Crosby has changed his mind about taking a summer vacation from broadcasting and has signed a seven-week extension to his present radio contract, keeping him on the air until the last week in May. He will continue to combine his radio work with films, and is now appearing with Miriam Hopkins and Kitty Carlisle in Paramount's "She Loves Me Not." Trop Distributing "Mating Time" J. D. Trop has acquired the distribution rights to "Mating Time," recently completed in Hollywood by Salient Pictures. Cast includes Arthur Tracy (Street Singer,) Ben Alexander and Jeanette Loff. The picture was directed by Leo Birinski. While not a musical, it features two new songs enitled "Song of You" and "The King Was Doing the Rhumba." Para. Writers Total 63 West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Lynn Starling. Julien Josephson and Chandler Sprague have been added to Paramount's st-ft of screen writers, bringing the totil to 63. the highest peak in the studio's record. Starling is working on th' .-d?ptation ot "Fifty-Two Weeks for Florette," Sprague on a story for Carole Lombard and Josephson on a Charlie Ruggles-Mary Boland comedy. \